Michael Lowry's Speech from the Dock

In the custom tradition of great Irish heroes, Micheal Lowry has been allowed to make one last defiant speech from the dock. As he addresses the nation and looks at all opposition with contempt, the question for us is guilty?....or Guilty?

My Lords;

What have I to say as to why sentence of censor should not be pronounced on me in accordance with the law? Well, its not the law. You see theres one law for the ordinary Joe soaps and one law for people like me. People who matter.

I have served this nation. Was it not patriotism that drove me to avoid paying tax? Was it not patriotism that drove me to lie when I finally took advantage of a tax amnesty? Was it not patriotism that made me protect my assets in four offshore accounts? Was it not patriotism that made me take bribes from corrupt businessmen? Was it not patriotism that made me put the interests of my own pocket and my own power ahead of the interests of the Irish people?

Let no man condemn me or my actions? How dare those people elected democratically by the Irish people disagree with and try to censor my good self. What is democracy if it can be used for something other than lining ones own pocket? Haven't I bought enough votes in my own constituency so as not to have to worry about politicians from other constituencies attacking me? Have I not corrupted my own neighbours and family enough with promises of the rewards to be gained from parish pump politics?

What, my lord, shall you tell me on my way out of here and into a nice cushy retirement paid for by my corruption in public life, and by my tax fugitive friends? What is corruption? Is it corrupt to use ones office of power to enlarge ones own bank account? Is it corrupt to lie, cheat and accept multiple bribes? Is it corrupt to put my needs before the needs of the most vulnerable citizens in this country?

Let no man dare, when I am retired, to charge me with anything. Ill be living the high life in a tropical tax haven somewhere over the rainbow.

Let no man write my epitaph as Denis O Brien has promised to pay someone important to write one for me.

€24 Billion more for Banks while nation stands on brink of collapse

The final bill for bailing out Ireland’s banks will be €70bn after stress tests by the Central Bank in Dublin detailed that four institutions need another €24bn.

 

Central Bank Governor Patrick Honohan said AIB will need €13.3bn, Bank of Ireland will need €5.2bn, the EBS will need €1.5bn while Irish Life and Permanent will need a whopping €4bn, more than double what was expected.

This means that despite the fact that half a million citizens are unemployed, thousands are emigrating and the country is standing on the brink of oblivion; our new government is planning on flushing another €24 billion down the grand toilet that is the Irish banking system.

By going down this path, Fine Gael and Labour are condemning this nation to ultimate default. What they are doing is just as bad as the actions of previous governments and the business elite that led us into this mess.

Despite lavish promises of reform and job creation, the legacy of what will surely be one of the shortest lived governments in this states history will be the willing donation of money that this nation doesn't have to bail out toxic banks. To pay off these unpayable debts, the Fine Gael coalition government will plunge generations of Irish men and women to come into poverty and debt.

 

Is this the change that the people of Ireland voted for a month ago?

Sinn Féin call for immediate end to Universal Social Charge

Speaking in the Dail yesterday as his party put a motion forward to abolish the Universal Social Charge, Gerry Adams called on members of other parties to join Sinn Féin TDs "in supporting a motion which, if implemented, can make a real and positive difference in people’s lives."

"The universal social charge is basically a flat tax: everyone with an income above €16,000 pays it at the same rate of 7%," Mr Adams said, "It also brings people who earn as little as €77 a week into the tax net. As such it breaches the fundamental principal of progressive taxation – that those who have more, should pay more."

While admitting that the new government had promised a review of the USC, fellow SF TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said that such a review is not necessary, and that the USC should be abolish immediately.

Donegal Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty repeated the appeal for TDs to vote in favour of the SF motion to abolish the USC immediately stating that it is an issue which demands the full support of each elected representative in the Dáil.

"It is little more than a tax on the working poor," Deputy Doherty said, "This tax needs to be abolished and instead the Government should work on building a fairer tax system by creating a progressive tax base that taxes fairly and equalises wealth."

“Fine Gael and Labour have said that they will ‘review’ the Universal Social Charge. They have also proposed at least 32 other reviews in the Programme for Government. A review is not good enough. Fine Gael and Labour should make a stand for the people and abolish this grossly unfair tax.”

Chavez receives Press award

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has received an award from Argentina's University of La Plata for promoting "popular communication" by giving people without a voice access to the airwaves and newspapers.

"I accept and dedicate this prize in the name of the people of your brother country, Venezuela, which has been fighting for years to shape dynamic peoples' media, free of the media dictatorship of the upper class and the United States," Chavez told the audience at a ceremony in Buenos Aires.

The large majority of mass media in Venezuela is privately owned, but Chavez has countered this by passing a law that requires all private television stations to dedicate at least 25% of their airtime to programs created by community groups, non-profits, and other independent producers.

In July 2005, Chavez helped launch a Latin American version of Al Jazeera to compete against what he saw as the controlled cable news channels, Univision and CNN. In 2006 Chávez inaugurated a state-funded movie studio called Villa del Cine to produce indigenous films and to combat the influence of Hollywood.

Chavez has also popularised alternative media by promoting social networking sites. He has his own Twitter account, and has over 1,100,000 followers. Chavez has had hundreds of "infocentres" built around the nation where ordinary Venezuelans can go to use the Internet for free. More are planned. 

Are Fine Gael corrupt?

In the Dail this afternoon, Deputy Joe Higgins said the revelations about the sponsorship of a Fine Gael golf event by Denis O'Brien amounted to a corruption of Government.

"Two months before awarding the most valuable contract in the history of this state by Fine Gael in government; the private individual that was desperately looking for it was lubricating the throats of Fine Gael grandees," Mr Higgins said. "Isn't it obvious to everybody that it was to lubricate the license process, that this was all about."

Around the time that Michael Lowry was fixing the licensing process for Denis O' Brien, Mr O' Briens Esat Digifone prevented public display of its sponsorship of a Fine Gael golf fundraiser by hurriedly requesting the return of promotional material.

Before March 1995, Mr O’Brien had never donated to Fine Gael. However, in the 16 months from March 1995 to June 1996, he made contributions totalling £22,140 to the party. Well over half this was paid before the result of the mobile phone competition was announced in October 1995.

The last donation was for £3,000 for the Fine Gael National Golf Classic in June 1996.

If these allegations prove true, then it becomes clear that the last Fine Gael led coalition government was to quote Fintan O' Toole, "As bent as a Brazilian free kick." Five members of the current government, including taoiseach Enda Kenny, sat at the cabinet table with Michael Lowry during the corruption which led to Mr O Briens winning of the now infamous mobile license.

Egypt dictatorship to lift "Emergency" Rule

Egypt was named a republic on June 18th 1953, but since 1967 (with the exception of an 18-month break in 1980) the country has been under "Emergency Law". In 1981, Hosni Mubarak, the former Vice President, came to power follwing the assassination of President  Anwar El Sadat. Mubarak has ruled as dictator since then.

On 25 January 2011, widespread protests began against Mubarak's regime as part of the Arab Spring. These took the form of an intensive campaign of civil resistance supported by very large numbers of people and mainly consisting of continuous mass demonstrations. When the public began ignoring Mubaraks curfew, the army refused to move against them. On 11 February 2011, Mubarak resigned and fled Cairo. Vice President Omar Suleiman announced that Mubarak had stepped down and that the Egyptian military would assume control of the nation's affairs in the short term.

The Egyptian Army spokesman, Ismail Etman, told a news conference in Cairo on Monday that parliamentary or presidential elections would not be held while the emergency law is still in place. With elections planned for September, this seems to be a clear indication that the emergency law is to removed. The Egyptian military council have also placed Mubarak and his family under house arrest.

Activists have demanded the release of political prisoners, the lifting of a 30-year-old state of emergency and the disbandment of military court.

US Airstrikes kill civilians

According to PressTV, the latest airstrikes by US led forces have hit civilian areas in the Libyan towns of Garyan and Mizdah, leaving scores of men and women wounded.

The Libyan government has said that since the airstrikes began, over a hundred civilians have been killed.

"Civilian and military areas in Garyan and Mizdah were hit on Monday night by the colonial and crusader aggressors," Libyan television said yesterday in a written news flash.

Secret quotes from Dail Eireann #3

(Should Michael Lowry be impeached?)

Enda: "Maybe in an ideal world, but in an ideal world I would have be in charge of the European Parliament, have my own talk show on TV3 on a Saturday night, a light variety show with the occasional bit of sauciness, and I would have my underpants ironed every morning. Do you think Fionnula would iron my underpants every morning? Not bloody likely!"

Gilmore: "We're sending Brendan Howlin and an elite troop of commandos from our old workers party in to take him out. Say nothing or you'll be next."

Brendan Howlin: "We tried to shoot Lowry but his body just absorbed the bullets. I think he sold them on to the Libyans afterwards."

Brendan Smith: "Does Lowry like cheese at all? Ive got 15,000 crates of pure Irish cheddar in my garage."

Mick Wallace: "I think we should legalise heroin and set up brothels in every village. Also I think we could solve unemployment by encouraging our young people to run guns into the middle east and to become actively involved in human trafficing."

Leo V: "Why lay a finger on a good blueblood like Michael Lowry when there are so many people scrounging off the state on benefits. Lets start recycling dolers. Oh I know its not political correct, but wouldn't they be happier as dog food than having to queue in the rain to sign on?"

Joan Burton: "I think in the spirit of equality, we should force Michael Lowry to have a sex change operation. Come to think of it, theres a lot of deputies who could be transformed. Eamon O Cuiv would look good in a skirt. I think Dickie Bruton could pull it off too, he has the legs for it."

Mattie McGrath: "I'm all for Lowry. He gave me a lend of twenty last night."

Noonan: "Lets peel the skin of the bloody traitor. How dare he....how bloody dare he take that money from O Brien....and give me none."

How many Blueshirts does it take to change a lightbulb?

Ever wondered how many members of the Fine Gael Parliamentary party that it takes to change a lightbulb?

Here's the answer. 10;

1. One to figure out if the light bulb needs to be changed.

2. One to set up a committee to determine the status of the lightbulb following the failure of number 1 to do anything.

3. One to draw up a 250 page manifesto in Enda Kennys name, promising that the changing of the lightbulb is Fine Gaels priority, a matter of national urgency, and that it will be dealt with immediately if you vote Fine Gael.

4. One to book first class airline tickets for Enda and Noonan to visit the EU and to talk to European leaders about the lightbulb situation and the need to change it immediately. A link between Irelands need to maintain our current corporation tax and the changing of the lightbulb will be discussed at length.

5. One to explain why Enda never brought up the subject of the lightbulb during his three day trip to Brussels, choosing instead to shake hands with hundreds of Eurocrats and get his picture taken at famous landmarks.

6. One to blame Fianna Fail for breaking the lightbulb, and insure that in future, under the sensible direction of Fine Gael, lightbulbs will never break again.

7. One to video Enda standing below the broken lightbulb, pointing and telling the people of Ireland that, "I want to talk to about a new Ireland where lighbulbs never go out..."

8. One to pay the IMF €50 billion of taxpayers money for a replacement lightbulb.

9. One to stop Dr James O' Reilly stealing the replacement lightbulb and hoarding it with his medical card stash. 

10. One to pay an American company to change the lightbulb because no one in Ireland has the expertise to work for Fine Gael.

Puppet Government established to lead "new" Libya

American  left-wing activist and political commentator, Ralph Schoenman, has claimed that the from its inception the intervention by the US and NATO powers in Libya have been designed not to advance, but to undermine and destroy a popular movement in that country.

Schoenman has stated that the opposition forces in Libya, who have now established an "alternative" state government, are actually controlled by US and Egyptian forces. Stratford Global Intelligence confirmed that 100 Egyptian commandos have been in control of opposition forces since early March at Washington's behest. The UK SAS, US Special Forces and CIA operatives have been there according to Stratford for months.

The Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM)  issued its statement in support of the Libyan Provisional Transitional National Council (PTNC) the day after it was revealed that the National Council had appointed Khalifa Hifter - a former colonel in the Libyan army and a long-time CIA collaborator - to head its military operations. The IAWM obviously hope that the recognition of the PTNC will result in a swift end to the conflict.

Will replacing the current regime with a more west-friendly government actually help the people of Libya or the process of democracy?

Confessions of a corrupt politician

Michael Lowry has today demanded more Dáil time to make his case in the debate on the Moriarty Tribunal report. He is demanding 45-50 minutes to make a statement. At present, the Government is only willing to give him 30 minutes, after an initial offer of 20 minutes.

The interesting thing about the above piece is not that the Irish media is treating Michael Lowry, one of the most corrupt politicians to ever serve in our national parliament, as a person with a legitimate right to defend oneself at the expense of the more important debate, but that Lowry is still an elected rep after the startling career which he has led.

In 1993 Michael Lowry became Chairman of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party. He used this occasion to tell his party leader John Bruton that he planned to avail of a new government tax amnesty. This did not deter Bruton from appointing the tax cheat to cabinet. Lowry went ahead with the amnesty but lied to the Revenue, deciding not to reveal the true extent of his hidden income. The following year, he was made Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications in the Rainbow Coalition government. Proof indeed that there is no room for honest people in politics.

In 1996, Lowry misled the Dail by failing to mention a series of large payments which he had received from Dunnes. He stated that if he had been trying to hide money he would have placed it in an offshore account, clearly indicating that he hadn't. In reality, Lowry had four offshore accounts, and Ben Dunne had paid IR£395,000 for an extension to Lowry's home in Tipperary. Lowry was forced to resign. A year later, he was re-elected with an extra 4,000 votes.

In March 2011 the Moriarty Tribunal found that the former Communications Minister Michael Lowry assisted businessman Denis O'Brien's consortium Esat Digiphone in acquiring a mobile phone licence in the mid-90s. For this he was heavily rewarded.

In the last four general elections, Michael Lowry has topped the poll in his native North Tipperary constituency. He has been the most popular candidate there each time despite it been widely accepted that he is a corrupted immoral man.

The interesting thing is that the electorate don't seem to care.

The Arab Spring

The Arab Spring is the name now popularly being given to the 2010-11 Middle East and North African protests and demonstrations that have been taking place since December 18th last.  The protests began in Tunisia where they led to the successful removal of President Zine El Abinde Ben Ali.  From here they spread rapidly, sharing techniques of civil resistance in sustained campaigns involving strikes, demonstrations, marches and rallies, as well as the use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter to organise, communicate, and raise awareness in the face of attempts at state repression and Internet censorship.

In Tunisia, the Jasmine Revolution forced President  Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to flee to Saudi Arabia.  This was followed by the outbreak of mass protests in Egypt, which led to President Hosni Mubarak, who had ruled Egypt for 30 years, resigning on 11 February 2011.  Around the same time the King of Jordan was forced to name a new President, and the the president of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, announced that he would not seek another term in office in 2013, after what would then be 35 years of rule.  Pro democracy protests in Bahrain and Libya followed.

In Algeria, major protests and riots caused the lifting of a nineteen year state of emergency.  In Lebanon, thousands took to the streets to protest the sectarian rule there.  Similar protests in Sudan led to President Bashir announcing he would not seek re-election.  Several ministers were sacked in Oman following major protests.  Economic concessions were also granted by the Sultan.  In Syria, mass protests led to the release of political prisoners and the sacking of a provincial governor.  In Morocco, a referendum on constitutional reform was announced following protests.  Prime Minister Maliki of Iraq was prevented from running for a third term after demonstrations there.  Protests in Iran led to the arrest of opposition leaders.  In Kuwait protesters clashed with riot police.

What has caused this widespread rebellion?

Economic turmoil, human rights violations, government corruption, mass unemployment and extreme poverty have all be named as factors.  Probably the biggest cause of the Arab Spring has been the growth of an educated and increasingly frustrated young generation.  This has been referred to as the YouthQuake in some quarters.  It remains to be seen whether or not this youth quake can bring about real and lasting change, or if the corrupt and bloated governments are simply replaced by more of the same.

Civil Liberties "suspended" in Bahrain

A senior leader in the Bahrain Freedom Movement has said that the small Persian Gulf monarchy is now under the control of a military regime that has suspended civil liberties and introduced new draconian laws to prevent any form of protest.

Amnesty International has condemned that recent government crack down against pro democracy protesters which has left at least twenty one people dead.  A "Day of Rage" has been called for today, Friday, by the February 14 Youth Movement.  The Bahrain government have arrested many known protesters in the past few days ahead of this planned protest.  Amnesty International believe that these people are 'prisoners of conscience' as they're only crime was to criticise the ruling regime.

 Earlier this week, the United Nations Human Rights Office criticized Bahrain for violating international law by targeting activists and medical staff.  All of this comes since the March 14th intervention of troops from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who entered Bahrain to 'restore order'.

When the Wind Blows.

Had the pleasure of watching When the Wind Blows for the first time the other night. Well I say pleasure, but this animated movie warning of the terrible impact that a nuclear war would have upon an ordinary family was about as bleak as you can get.

When the Wind Blows follows the lives of Jim and Hilda Bloggs, a retired couple living in rural Sussex. They are living during a period of heightened tension in the cold war conflict, and Jim becomes obsessed with gathering information from the various civil defense pamphlets on what to do in the event of a nuclear war. The fact that both he and his wife grew up during the second world war leaves them completely mystified at the notion of a nuclear bomb, believing that life would continue as normal afterwards, just as it had after the blitz.

Jim spends much of the movie haplessly carrying out various precautions included in the defense pamphlets, often becoming confused at the different suggestions posted in different leaflets. His wife goes along with it, and his grown up son, who is never seen, finds it a bit of a joke. Then one sunny day, while listening to Radio Four, the dreaded three minute warning is given. Jim and Hilda take refuge under a shelter he has recently build using the doors of his house as the bombs drop.

The Blogs survive and incorrectly reason that the worst is over. In fact its only just beginning. The bombs have resulted in fallout, and soon both Jim and Hilda are suffering from radiation sickness. The film ends on a bleak note.

Many believe that it was bleak, realistic anti nuke movies like When the Wind Blows, Threads and The Day After that prevented a nuclear war. Ronald Reagan famously said that he had watched The Day After when he was President and it made such an impact on him that he felt he had to mediate with the Soviet Union and end the Cold War.

Fine Gael corruption! Shock horror!

The Moriarty tribunal has found that former minister for communications Michael Lowry secured the 1995 mobile phone licence competition for Denis O’Brien’s Esat Digifone. Mr Justice Michael Moriarty also found that Lowry  interfered in a rent arbitration process in an attempt to secure a benefit for the businessman Ben Dunne. Both Mr O Brien and Mr Dunne gave the former Fine Gael Minister "political donations" at the time.

Lets put this into context.

While holding the Ministry portfolio of Transport, Energy and Communications, Michael Lowry appears to carried some pretty big political favours for some pretty powerful and wealthy friends. The Moriarty tribunal certainly paints a picture that would indicate that the former Fine Gael Minister was bribed. Michael Lowry was sitting at the cabinet table of the last Fine Gael/Labour party coalition government. Sitting very close to him were Richard Bruton, Brendan Howlin, Ruairi Quinn, Michael Noonan and our new Taoiseach, Enda Kenny.

Enda Kenny.

The man who promised us a new type of politics during the last election campaign.

A man who led Fine Gael to an impressive victory on the promise of political reform and an end to all political corruption.

Today Mr Kenny's minions sneered at representatives of Sinn Féin, Fianna Fail and the United Left Alliance when they asked the simple questions; questions that had been poised only weeks ago by the Fine Gael party at our last government.

Was Deputy Lowry acting alone?

Did his cabinet colleagues have no idea of what was taking place?

And if they didn't, arnt they still guilty of the crime of total incompetence and being completely unfit to serve in a government cabinet?

Six members of our new government sat at that cabinet table with Michael Lowry.

I don't see any reason for Fine Gael to sneer now.

               

How to deal with undemocratic regimes: Israel

The UN decision to intervene in Libya was taken to protect Libyan citizens and champion democracy. At least that's what the worlds media is busy trying to convince you.

The worlds media machine will do its best to convince you that the UN took these decisions with only the noblest of intentions at heart, and that the roots of its very existence prevents it from any corruption or wrong doing. The original aims of the United Nations are "to keep peace throughout the world, to develop friendly relations between nations, to work together to help people live better lives, to eliminate poverty, disease and illiteracy in the world, to stop environmental destruction and to encourage respect for each other's rights and freedoms."

To encourage respect for each others rights and freedoms.

While the UN sponsored bombing of Libya continues, the Israeli military are launching missile attacks against the condensed civilian population of the Gaza strip. Over 10,000 Palestinians are held in detention by Israel. That's more political prisoners than China or Iran. Israel has the largest number of apartheid laws and regulations. It has one of the longest imposition of emergency laws and regulations that rob citizens of their most basic human and civil rights. Israel has imposed laws upon Palestinian citizens that prevent them from building new homes, from cultivating their land and from travelling to work or to a hospital. Israel completely bans the Palestinians from commemorating their history and culture.

The UN seems unconcerned with encouraging respect for Palestinians rights and freedoms. The UN seems unwilling to deal with a rogue nation who's insane leaders are endangering the lives of its civilian population. That rogue state is Israel, and its immunity is another clear indicator of the shameful double standards being used to justify the rape of Libya.

When Enda met Jesse...

This meeting of the minds was picked up on tape by CNN. American civil rights activist and former Presidential hopeful, Jesse Jackson was keen to meet the new leader of Ireland. Its a pity that Enda Kenny had no idea who he was...

JESSE: "Ah Mr Kenny I presume?"

ENDA: "yes, thats right. I already gave the keys to the other fella."

JESSE: "Im sorry sir?"

ENDA: "The keys of the car. I gave them to other black fella outside. Thanks all the same."

JESSE: "Do you think that I am a valet?"

ENDA: "Jaysus no, I thought you wanted to park my car. Listen if your not working here, I dont think you should be in here. This is a private function for me. Im a VIP from Ireland."

JESSE: "I know who you are Mr Kenny"

ENDA: "Oh I see, its an autograph your after is it? I cant blame you, you probably dont meet many important foreign dignatories. Give me a pen will ya, this'll be worth money in a few years ha ha."

JESSE: "Sir, Im Jesse Jackson."

ENDA: "Oh Jesse Jackson."

JESSE: "Do you know who I am sir?"

ENDA: "Oh of course Jesse, (whispers) but Im not sure this is the place for a hardcore porn star."

JESSE: "What?"

ENDA: "Now dont get me wrong...I personally admire you and your movies. Myself and Fionnula have spent many a good night watching one your films. What was that one you done? Megawhores from Harlem 3"

JESSE: "Megawhores from Harlem? Are you insulting me sir?"

ENDA: "Of course not Jesse. I mean the acting left alot to be desired but you made up for it with the size of your coc..."

JESSE: "Excuse me Mr Kenny, I am not a porn star, you son of a bitch."

ENDA: "Now Jesse, theres no need for that language. I dont think you should be calling attention to yourself here."

JESSE: "Why? Because Im black?"

ENDA: "No of course not, because your black and here. I dont think you were invited after all."

JESSE: "I was a personal friend of Dr Martin Luther King"

ENDA: "Who?"

JESSE: "Doctor King"

ENDA: "Did he have a hit with Sylvias Mother?"

JESSE: "You imbecile! I ran for the Presidency"

ENDA: "Oh I get it now. Your like the Dana of the states are you? Used to hang around the music scene and now you run for president knowing you'll never get in"

JESSE: "How dare you. I had hoped to raise the issue of Irish travellers with you sir but I see its useless."

ENDA: "Are you getting hardship from them Jesse? Are they wanting to tarmac your drive?"

JESSE: "What?"

ENDA: "Listen, dont pay them cause they'll make a balls of it. And theyll come back and set up a bloody halting site on your front lawn if you so much as make eye contact."

JESSE: "You are mistaken. Im am worried about the future of this minority.."

ENDA: "Dont be worrying, Once I have the concentration camps ready.."

JESSE: "Concentration camps!!!"

ENDA: "Sorry...I mean...relocation camps...once there up and running everything will be ok"

JESSE: "You sir are a bigot and a damn fool. God save Ireland. I bid you farewell"

ENDA: "Good luck with the porn Jesse"

Whos this fecker?

Double Standards: Why is Libya targeted while Saudi Dictatorship remains in place?

UN resolution 1970 gave authorisation to the Western Nations to use air strikes against Libyan forces in an effort to protect civilians. But is this International Intervention about protecting citizens, or something else?

Declarations from western powers that the military strike against Libya is motivated solely by a desire to protect the civilian population cannot be taken seriously. In Yemen, protesters have been massacred on the street, in full view of the world and the Wests "Philanthropy". No intervention has been taken in Yemen. Yemen is one of the poorest and least developed nations in the Arab world, with no valuable natural resources.

Last week, one of the richest dictatorships in the world, Saudi Arabia, invaded the small nation of Bahrain, following pro democracy demonstrations there. No action was taken against the Saudis. No Intervention was announced. The UN passed no resolution to deal with this stamping out of fledgling democracy. Saudi Arabia is an oil rich nation, and one of the West's closest allies in the Arab world. The Saudi regime bans political parties, has declared protests ‘un-Islamic’ and continues to incarcerate almost 8,000 political prisoners.

It is clear for the world to see that the "Intervention" in Libya is not about protecting the Libyan people, but rather about insuring the ready supply of oil. In 2005, Shell reached an agreement with the Libyan state oil company to explore for gas in the Sirte Basin. It is obvious that this giant multinational company will not see its investment lost, should rebels take control of Libya. Only four years ago, the British government were happy to sell missiles to the Libyan government. Hardly the actions of a nation that puts democracy and civilians safety first!



Operation Odyssey Dawn. Whos the target in Libya?

Operation Odyssey Dawn is the code name given to the military action against Libya. The reference appears to be to the Odyssey, and the long war in which the main character was fighting for ten years, before taking another ten years to get home. Why the American military would attach such a name to an operation which is supposed to be a temporary intervention is unclear, and certainly at odds with what the leaders of the Western Nations say their main aims are for Libya.

Yesterday,

British Prime Minister David Cameron secured comprehensive support from MPs for the military intervention in Libya – despite signs of friction in the Government over how to tackle Gaddafi. It emerged from yesterdays debate in the commons that the leader of Libya was not a target and that the UN had "not allowed" the removal of the leader by the Allied Nations. This leaves us with an incredible question; Just how does the United Nations justify green lighting the bombing of civilian areas but refuses to target the man who they claim is the problem in Libya?

Yesterday, David Cameron stated that the Western Nations missile bombardment had

“largely neutralised” the Libyan air defences, effectively securing a no-fly zone over the country. However last night the bombing resumed. Just what are the Western Powers bombing now?

The human cost of "democracy". Invasion of Libya continues...

Three days ago the UN passed resolution 1970, which in their own words was designed to "impose immediate measures to stop the violence, ensure accountability and facilitate humanitarian aid" in Libya.

Almost immediately, Western warplanes began bombing targets in the oil rich North African nation.

Despite the nonsense spouted by spokespeople for the Western Alliance arguing otherwise, there is absolutely no doubt that Libyan civilians have been killed in these air strikes, and more will die if the bombing is not brought to an end immediately.

The worlds media proudly announced that the passing of resolution 1970 was about setting up a No-Fly Zone over Libya to protect citizens. They did not mention that the No-Fly Zone would only apply to native aircraft, while western warplanes would be free to fly over and bomb any targets they wanted. Maybe this is why the Arab League and Russia are now have serious second thoughts about their initial support for the "Intervention".

Intervention.... or Invasion?

The only thing resolution 1970 bans the West from doing is permanently occupying Libya. They don't have the resources to do so anyway. Better that they be given the time and power to set up a friendly puppet regime to insure regional stability and ready oil supply. Forget the people of Libya who must now face the fire power of "western democracy".

I received this message from a woman who's Libyan partner is back in his homeland. I think it speaks for itself and should be a wake up call for those people who believe the UN are acting for the interests of the Libyan people;

"Throughout these 31 days of uncertainty I have never felt more afraid for my family than today.Every hour counts now,it will not be a matter of pro or anti government anymore,no one is safe.The consensus is that people who are not part of the so called 'non western society' do not feel pain,emotions,they do not feel the pain of loss of family and friends like 'us westeners' do.
Worldwide people are condemning this action.I pray that this will be the first day our voices will be heard"

These Libyan kids face the firepower of "Western Democracy"